So you have cleaned your windows, then why aren’t they shining? Streaks or spots appear when the cleaning liquid that you have used dries up before you have completely wiped it. The trick in this case is to check the component of your cleaning solution whether it evaporates easily or not. If the major component, such as alcohol, dries up fast, chances are it would leave a mark. A good cleaning solution should allow you to have the time to wipe it before it evaporates.

You should also consider the weather when cleaning glasses since the weather also affects the evaporation of your cleaning solution. It is not advisable to clean them, especially your windows, when the weather is blistering hot.

Clutter cleaning doesn’t need to be done at one time especially when you have other things to do like attending to your children’s needs, looking after your husband, and worst if you are a working mother who spends at least 8 hours a day, 6 days a week working outside your home. The best solution to keep yourself stress free from clutter cleaning, give a little each day for these tasks. Next thing you’ll know, you’re almost done! What you need to do is time management, and home for your clutters. Sometimes, we think that junks are just junks. But if we look at them carefully, they can still be used for something else.

Small children seem to have an incredible appetite for exploring, but little understand of danger. If you have an infant or toddler, you would know.

Here are fews tips on to how childproof your home:

• Pick up small objects.
• Protect your cabinets and drawers. Always lock the ones containing hazardous containers.
• Avoid unnecessary extension cords.
• Protect electrical outlets. Use protective covers/plates.
• Make the bathroom safe.
• Check your furniture edges/corners. Get those covered/padded.
• Install door/drawer safety locks.
• Secure curtain cords.
• Install baby gates at top and bottom of your stairways.

Sometimes we don’t see these simple steps. Or we often forget because we are preoccupied at work. Your children are your treasure. Keep them safe at home. Childproof your home!

Here are some views that people gave about having a quality door:

Southern California architect Craig Stoddard says:

“The entry door is the beginning of your journey through a house”. “It’s the first part of the house that anyone going through the house looks at closely. Ideally it should emphasize the character of the house,” he adds. For new and old homes alike, the front door is a key focal point.

According to Mary Ann Holler at Larson:

How do you recognize a quality door?  “It’s really easy. You can feel the door, and feel how it opens and closes. A quality door will have more heft, it will close more smoothly, and you can see quality of construction. The corners and moldings will be tight and finished looking.” Also pay attention to the warranty. The best doors have a limited lifetime warranty.

Source here.

In consideration of the security of your home, installing deadbolts on your door is recommended. Reliance on the lock of your doorknob alone is not encouraged. Doorknobs are easy to pick, and also, they can be easily overcome by force. Deadbolts are harder to open since the weight on the locking bar is greater than an ordinary lock. Thus, it discourages intruders from entering your home.

There are different types of deadbolts offered in your nearby hardware stores. Manufacturers have patented different kinds of deadbolts depending on the type of technique that is anticipated to be used in attempting to open your door. You can consult your locksmith on which kind of deadbolt would be sufficient for your home.

But then again, cut flowers can only last for a few days to maybe over a week. The same goes true for sprigs of leaves. And well, unless the fruits are made of plastic, they’re always best eaten. So if you really want to add a bit more life to your home, planting a garden or carefully planning your landscape could possibly be the only renovation you need.

As with any part of your home though, acting on impulse without giving decisions ample consideration could easily lead to some designing disasters. Some things you might want to consider when planning your landscape are the following:

- the amount of time and money you’re willing to invest
- the general weather and/or climate of your vicinity
- access to water
- space considerations

These are very basic but very important because you don’t want your garden to a) die on you, b) overpower your home, or c) cause more trouble than necessary. So before you burn cash on a paint job or renovations look around you first and think about what you see. Maybe a little landscaping job is all you need after all.

Photo credits: Craig Pitts

Many designers suggest using carefully placed bits and pieces in your rooms to add a touch of character to your surroundings. Most commonly used are large and often colorful coffee table books that speak volumes of your interests while adding an interesting – and not to mention – interactive piece of accent to your receiving areas.

You could also consider color-coding your books on the shelf, stacking books on an end table to add a bit of texture, or even commissioning a painting inspired by your favorite read. There truly are a lot you can do with a little help from the books.

Photo credits: Steve Woods

The bathroom is a damp place where molds accumulate easily. Molds on the tiles are easy to remove – you just scrub them off. It is a different story, however, when molds cultivate on the shower curtain. Granting that the molds are wiped away, the stains left by the molds remain.

The most practical solution is to prevent their cultivation by keeping the curtains dry. After taking a shower, always spread out the curtain before leaving the bathroom. This way, the curtain dries faster preventing the mold growth since they are dependent on moisture.

Unnecessary cleaning is avoided and the useful life of the shower curtain is prolonged at no cost.

The architectural inspiration, the curves and corners, and the colors of the house speak volumes, if you would only listen. As such, unless you’re willing to completely re-paint the entire house or renovate room after room, it would be a good idea to get to know your home before you do some major decorating.

Take a pen and paper, get to know your home, and see where your little bonding session would take you.

Photo credits: Sxc.hu

Don Vandervort continues:

Cut and remove the damaged wallpaper as far back as a seam, a corner or to the least visible part of the design, such as a line in the pattern. Be careful not to pull away the drywall’s paper covering when you remove the wallpaper. To make a patch, cut a square larger than the existing area to be patched and align the pattern. Use masking tape or tacks to attach the patch to the wall. Cut through the patch and the wallpaper with a utility knife and straightedge as shown below left. Put the patch aside and dampen the wallpaper with a wet sponge. It should peel right off. Clean the wall, letting it dry. Spread a thin layer of adhesive to the back of the patch and carefully put it in place on the wall as shown below right. Use a seam roller to smooth it gently but firmly in place. Quickly wipe away any adhesive that spreads onto the surrounding wallpaper.